Closure device for building apertures



June 24, 1947.

F. c. RUSSELL ET AL CLOSURE DEVICE FOR BUILDING APERTURES 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Aug; 11, 1941 4 wwwwwww June 24, 1947. F, c, U E 5 AL 2,422,704

CLOSURE DEVICE FOR BUILDING APERTURES Filed Aug. 11, 1941 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Fig-B Altamont S- Barker 9 h s ATTORNEYS F. c, RUSSELL Er AL 2,422,704

CLOSURE DEVICE FOR BUILDING APERTURES June 24, 1947.

3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Aug. 11, 1941 a sa m M 5 ma ma mkm n l n a A a t r 1 A Patented June 24, 1947 CLOSURE DEVICE FOR BUILDING APERTURES Frank C. Russell, Euclid, and Altamont S. Barker, Cleveland, Ohio, asslgnors to The F. C. Russell Company, Cleveland, Ohio, a corporation of Maryland Application August 11, 1941, Serial No. 406,302

4 Claims.

This invention relates to building construction and has particular reference to an improved closure device for fitting within a framed aperture of a building. More specifically, the invention relates to a closure for a building aperture or opening that includes an adjustable shutter or jalousie in combination with removable window or screen panels.

It is an object of the invention to provide an improved structure for fitting within a building aperture which combines adjustable shutters on the outside with removable panels that may be of either glass, screen or other material on the inside.

Another object is to provide a device of the character mentioned constructed primarily of relatively thin sheet metal so that the same is light and compact.

Another object is to provide an improved actuating mechanism for operating the vanes or slats of an adjustable shutter or jalousie, and which is particularly suited for such devices having relatively long slats or vanes.

Another object is to provide an improved shutter or jalousie construction wherein the adjacent slats or vanes interlock with one another to provide a light-tight and weatherproof seal, the interlocking parts also being eifective to reinforce the slats or vanes against longitudinal bending.

Another object is to provide improved light weight sheet or plate metal center support means for shutters having relatively long slats or vanes. More specifically, it is an object of the invention to provide improved center support means that provides for turning movement of the vanes over relatively long arcuate paths and about axes adjacent their gravity centers.

A still further object is to provide a generally improved closure device for fitting within a building aperture which is relatively simple in design and construction and inexpensive to manufacture. Other objects and advantages will become apparent as the following detailed description proceeds, which is made in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is an elevational view, partly in section and with parts broken away, showing the outside of our improved device mounted in the framed window opening of a building;

Fig. 2 is a horizontal sectional view of the device, foreshortened and with parts removed, taken along the line indicated at 22 of Fig. l and enlarged with respect to that figure;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary detail on an enlarged scale showing one of the fastening devices for retaining the removable panel means in the inside frame of the device;

Fig. 4 is a vertical sectional view, foreshortened and with parts broken away, taken substantially on the line 4-4 of Fig. 1 and enlarged with respect thereto;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary elevational view, foreshortened, partly in section and with parts removed, showing the center support and the actuating mechanism for the shutters or vanes;

Fig. 6 is a. fragmentary elevational view, foreshortened, partly in section and with parts removed, showing one of the side frame members and part of the actuating mechanism for the vane or shutters;

Fig. 7 is a foreshortened vertical sectional view with parts removed showing a jalousie or shutter employing a modified form of the center support;

Fig. 8 is an elevational detail of the center support shown in Fig. 7;

Fig. 9 is a sectional detail taken substantially on the line 99 of Fig. '7; and

Fig. 10 is a plan view showing the shape of the sheet metal used in making the center support of Figs. '7 through 9 before the metal is bent to channel form.

Referring to the drawings by numerals of reference which indicate like parts in the several figures, th invention is illustrated in connection with a shutter type closure for a window opening in a building having wooden frame means defining the window opening. It is to be understood, of course, that the present invention is applicable to buildings constructed of materials other than wood since the present device incorporates a frame that may be received in any conventional type of building aperture. The wooden frame of the building aperture includes a bottom member I which may slope outwardly as shown, and a top member 2, the latter abutting against siding or sheathing indicated at 3. Side members of the wooden frame are indicated at 4 and 5. The combination closure having adjustable shutters on the outside of the building and removable panel means on the inside of the building comprises inner and outer frames formed of relatively thin sheet metal. The inside frame formed of suitable sheet metal such as 24-gauge steel by rolling or pressing has side portions 6 and top and bottom portions 1 and 8. Along the inner edges of the top, bottom and side portions of the inside frame are formed integral side flanges 9 and top and bottom flanges l0 and II. These flanges extend inwardly across the margins of the window aprture and the side flanges have offset portions I 4 connected by portions I5 to receive removable panel assemblies comprising sheet metal frames l6 and screening [1. The removable panels may be of conventional construction and glass or other material may be substituted for the screening I'I. Angle pieces l8 of sheet metal, suitably welded or otherwise secured to the inside of the bottom flange I I, support the removable panels, and retainers. l9 formed of angle shaped strips of sheet metal are secured to the top portion I of the inside frame so as to extend in spaced parallel relation to the top flange portion l0, thereby providing a channel or space 28 into which the upper edge of the removable panel can be pushed to clear the bottom edge of the panel over the upper edge of the flange II when removing or replacing the panel.

As shown in Fig. 2, a number of the removable panels may be disposed across the width of the building aperture and in such case one or more vertical stiles 2| may be employed. These stiles are formed of sheet metal by rolling or pressing to channel shape, providing offset flanges 22' which correspond to the offset portions l4 of the side flanges 9. Thus, the removable panels are normally recessed into the inside frame of the structure and disposed in bearing engagement with the offset flanges I4 and 22 and in abutting relation to the connecting portions I5 along the side flanges 9 and corresponding connecting portions 23 along the sides of the stile 2|.

Suitable means for retaining the removable panels in the inner frame of the device is provided. In the present instance latch levers or elements 28 are pivoted to the frame members I6 of the panels at 21 and are provided with rings 28 by means of which the levers can be turned on the pivots 21 so that the ends of the levers may be moved into and out of registering slots 29 formed in the connecting portions of the side flanges 9 and the corresponding portions 23 of the center stile 2|.

The outside frame of the device is also made of sheet metal which is preferably of heavier gauge than that used for the inner frame described above, such, for example, as sheet steel of about M-gauge. Side portions 30 of the outer frame are disposed in parallel relation to the side portions 6 of the inside frame and are overlapped by the latter in telescopic relation as shown in Fig. 2. Similarly, top and bottom portions 3| and 32 of the outer frame are parallel to the top and bottom portions 1 and 8, respectively, of the inner frame and are overlapped by the latter in telescopic relation as shown in Fig. 4. Integral flanges 33 are formed on the top, bottom and side portions of the outer frame and extend angularly from such portions away from the building aperture so as to lie against the adjacent surfaces of the wooden frame members I, 3, 4, and 5. By this arrangement the joint between the combination closure device of the present invention and the material or members framing the building aperture can be readily made weather-tight by caulking or the like. Also, if desired, siding or similar material can be applied to the building so that the ends thereof overlap the flanges 33 of the outer frame of the device.

The telescopic relation of the inside and outside frames of the closure device provides for adjustment of the device to fit building apertures of different depths. In the drawings the device is shown assembled for minimum depth, it being understood that for buildings having walls of greater thickness, the inner and outer frames 4 may be drawn apart while retaining their telescopic relation 50 as to increase the depth or space between the angularly disposed flanges 9, l3 and I l of the inside frame with respect to the flanges 33 of the outside frame.

A plurality of elongated slats or vanes 34, which may be formed of relatively thin sheet metal, such as 20-gauge steel, are disposed horizontally across the outer frame between the side portions 30 of the latter. To the underside of the slats or vanes and at their ends and in the center thereof a number of actuating levers 35 or hinge elements are secured. as by welding. The levers 35 at the ends of the slats are received on pivot pins 36 which extend through the side portions 38 of the frame, suitable washers 31 being provided to separate the levers from the frame. Thus, the slats or vanes 34 are mounted to turn about spaced horizontal axes from the closed positions shown in full lines, Fig. 4, to the open positions shown in broken lines of the same figure. Along the parallel top and bottom edges of the slats or vanes 34 are formed, as by bending, integral flanges 38 and 39. These flanges are angularly disposed with respect to the body portions of th slats and serve to reinforce the slats against longitudinal bending, thereby providing a relatively stiff structure although formed of, thin metal. The flanges of each slat or vane extend in opposite directions from the plane of the slat, the top flange extending upwardly or downwardly while the bottom flange extends inwardly or downwardly. of the slats 34 is of greater width than the space between adjacent pivot pins 36 so that when the slats are moved or rotated to closed position, the top flange 38 of each slat moves behind and above the bottom flange 39 of the next adjacent slat. Thus, an interfitting relationship isv provided which effects a light-tight substantially weathertight seal between the slats. Each of the bottom flanges 39 is preferably of greater width than the top flange 38 with which it interlocksso that the bottom flanges abut against the body portions of the next adjacent slats when the latter are moved to closed position, as shown at 43, Fig. 5. Portions of the top flanges are removed or cut away in the regions of the levers 35 so as to clear the latter in closing the shutter.

Along the top of the outer frame is a depending apron 40 which may be secured as by welding to the flange portion 33 of the top portion of the frame and is formed with an inwardly extending angularly disposed flange 4| that underlies the top flange 38 of the uppermost slat 34 when the jalousie or shutter is closed. The lowermost slat is formed along its bottom edge with an offset flange portion 42 which extends below the bottom portion 32 of the outer frame in overlapping relation to the flange 33 thereof.

When the building aperture for which the device of the present invention is to constitute a closure is of considerable width, as, for example, four or more feet, it is desirable that the slats 34 be supported centrally as well as at their ends. Accordingly, a center support indicated generally at 45 is disposed in upright position transversely across the rear of the slats 34 and between the top and bottom portions 3| and 32 of the outer frame. This center support comprises an elongated member 46 which may be formed of heavy gauge sheet or plate metal and has one edge bent at a right angle to provide a flan e 41 which is received within the channel of the stile 2| and abuts against the latter when the inner and outer frames are assembled in the manner shown in the Each drawings. The laterally extending flange portion 41 reinforces the support member, preventing lateral bending of the same. The bottom of the support 45 is formed with a bent over portion 48 which may be secured as by welding to the bottom portion 32 of the outside frame; A lateral extension 49 at the top of the support 45 is formed with a bent over flange 50 which may be secured as by welding to the top portion-3| of the outer frame.

At spaced intervals along the length of the support 45 are laterally extending upwardly curved integral arms 5|, the outer ends 54 of which carry pins 52 by means of which the levers 3-5 in the centers of the slats are pivotally mounted on the arms 5|, washers 53 being interposed between the levers and the arms if desired. The Pivot pins 36 and 52 are located between the top and bottom edges of the vanes and adjacent the longitudinal axis of the center of gravity of the moving parts of the shutter mechanism so that the slats or vanes are substantially balanced on the pivot pins, requiring minimum eifort in their adjustment.

As shown in Fig. 4, the outer ends 54 of the upwardly directed arms 5| are separated from the body member 46 of the center support by a space 55 which receives the top edges of the slats or vanes 34 when the latter are turned to their extreme open position shown by the broken lines. Thus, the center support of the present invention is so arranged that the slats or vanes can be rotated or turned upwardly to a position in which the top edges swing inwardly and downwardly until they are lower than the bottom edges, thereby disposing the slats so that light is reflected into the interior of the building through the openings between the slats or vanes, the surfaces of the vanes that normally face outwardly serving as reflectors and facing inwardly partially toward the member 46 of the center support, and being disposed at an acute angle to the latter.

Portions 56 of the levers 35 extend beyond the edge flanges 38 of the slats and are pivotally connected by pins 51 to tie bars 58 for simultaneous actuation of the slats upon vertical movement of the tie bars. The lower ends of the tie bars are pivotally connected by pins 59 to arms 50 rigidly secured on a'rotatable rod BI journaled at its ends in upstanding brackets 62 having flanged portions 63 fastened to the bottom portion 32 of the outer frame by means of screws 64.

The rod GI may be conveniently made of square cross section and the arms 50 provided with square holes which receive the rod, thereby preventing relative turning. A gear 61 having a square hole is mounted on the rod 8| to actuate the latter, and is housed within a casing 68 which journals a worm 69 that meshes with the gear 61. A crank I extends through a suitable opening in the flange portion ll of the inside frame and has-a squared end which is received within a suitable socket in the worm 69 so as to rotate the latter when the crank is actuated. The cas ing 58 is suitably attached to the bottom portion 32 of the outer frame. Upon actuation of the crank 10 in one direction, the rod 6| is turned by means of the worm 69 and the gear 61 in a clockwise direction, as viewed in Fig. 4, about an axis parallel to the turning axis of the shutter vanes, so as to raise the tie bars 58 to the full line position shown in which the louvres or slats 34 are closed with their edges in interlocked relationship. Rotation of the crank ll) in a reverse direction turns the square rod in a counter- 6 clockwise direction, as viewed in Fig. 4, so as to lower the tie bars 58 to the broken line position shown, which opens the louvres or vanes to the broken line position illustrated or to any desired intermediate position.

In Figs. '7 through 10 is illustrated a modification of the invention wherein a hollow or tubular type of center support is employed, this form of support being particularly desirable where the removable panels previously mentioned are to be omitted. The device to be fitted within an aperture of a building comprises a frame similar to the outer frame previously described and which may be formed of sheet metal by rolling or stamping. This sheet metal frame includes top and bottom portions 13 and 14 which correspond to the top and bottom portions 3| and 32 previously described. Flanges 15, to be disposed against the framing of the building aperture, are formed integral with the portions 13 and I4 of the frame and correspond to the flanges 33 previously mentioned.

The center support indicated generally at I5 is made from a single sheet or stamping of relatively thin sheet metal shown in plan form in Fig. 10. This sheet metal strip is of elongated character and is formed along opposite margins with complementary pairs of angularly disposed arms TI, each of these arms being disposed at an acute angle to the longitudinal axis of the metal strip, like the arms 5| previously described are at an acute angle to the body portion or member 46 of the center support 45.

The flat strip of sheet metal is bent along its length into channel shape, positioning the arms 11 in spaced confronting relationship to one another. The tip ends of the arms 11 are drawn relatively close together and receive therebetween the center levers 35 connected to the slats 34. Pins 18 are received in aligned opening in the ends of the upwardly curved arms I1 and the levers 35 to pivotally mount the latter for turning movement supported by the arms I1. The tie bar 58, previously mentioned, is connected to the levers 35 mounted on the center support 18 and is disposed within the space or chamber 19 formed by confronting side Wall portion 80 of the tubular center support. Thus, the tubular or channel shaped design of the center support provides a partially concealed construction which is neat in appearance as well as being relatively strong and rigid. At the top and bottom of the center support, portions 8| are flanged over and secured as by welding to the top and bottom portions 13 and 14 of the frame, thereby fastening the center support rigidly in place.

This tubular or hollow center support has its arms 11 curved upwardly so that the ends thereof are spaced from the body portion and the slats or vanes can be turned upwardly suificiently to face the outer surfaces of the slats inwardly, as shown by the broken lines in Fig. 7. Furthermore, the rotatable rod BI and associated actuating mechanism can be employed with the center support shown in Figs. 7 through 10 in the manner previously described in connection with Figs. 1 through 6.

The present invention thus provides a combination shutter device and removable panel closure for building apertures which is adjustable as to size and which is provided with improved means for supporting and actuating relatively 8, 32 and 14 of the frames described herein be disposed so that they slope downwardly toward the outside, thereby permitting rain and condensation to be run oif.

While the inner and outer frames of the device have been described as adjustable so as to fitbuilding apertures of diflerent depths by means of the sliding telescopic connection between the frames, it is contemplated that, if desired, the overlapped portions shown in Figs. 2, 4, and 6 may be secured together as by welding, riveting or bolting.

The principles of the present invention may be utilized in various ways, numerous modifications and alterations being contemplated, substitution of parts and changes in construction being resorted to as desired, it being understood that the embodiments shown in the drawings and described above are given merely for purposes of explanation and illustration without intending to limit the scope of the claims to the specific details disclosed.

What we claim is:

1. An adjustable jalousie for a building aperture comprising a plurality of elongated slats mounted for turning about spaced horizontal axes, a hollow support member disposed in generally upright position across the slats and having laterally extending arms, levers pivoted on the outer ends of the arms and supportingly secured to the underside of the slats, said levers extending into the interior of the support member, and a tie bar connected to the levers interlorly of the support member and actuable simultaneously to turn the levers and the slats respectively supported thereby.

2. An adjustable jalousie for a building aperture comprisin a. plurality of elongated slats mounted for turning about spaced horizontal axes, a hollow support member disposed in generally upright position across the slats and having pairs of spaced laterally extending arms, levers disposed between said arms and pivotally connected to the outer ends of the latter, said levers being secured to the underside of. the slats to support the latter and having ends which extend to the interior of the support member, and a tie bar connected to the levers interiorly of the support member and actuable simultaneously to turn the levers and the slats respectively supported there by. a

3. An adjustable jalousie for a building aperture comprising a plurality of elongated slats mounted for turning about spaced horizontal axes, a support member formed of thin sheet metal bent to channel shape and having laterally extending arms, said member being disposed in generally upright position across the slats, levers pivoted on the outer ends of the arms and supportingly secured to the slats, said levers having ends which extend into the interior of the channel of the support member, a tie bar disposed in the channel and connected to the lever ends, and means for shifting the tie bar longitudinally in the channel simultaneously to actuate the, levers for turning the slats in unison.

4. An adjustable j alousie for a building aperture comprising a plurality of elongated slats mounted for turning about spaced horizontal axes, a support member formed of thin sheet metal bent to channel shape and having spaced portions of the side walls of the channel support member extended in pairs in the provision of lateral arms, said channel member being disposed in generally upright position across the slats, a lever embraced between the outer ends of each pair of arms and pivoted thereto, said levers being supportingly secured to the slats and having ends which extend into the interior of the channel of the support member, a, tie bar disposed in the channel and connected to the lever ends, and means for shifting the tie bar longitudinally in the channel simultaneously to actuate the levers for turning the slats in unison.

FRANK C. RUSSELL. ALTAMONT S. BARKER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,152,705 Mortimer Apr. 4, 1939 2,119,667 Crowe Jan. 7, 1938 2,166,441 Jones July 18, 1939 Re. 17,277 Messenger Apr. 23, 1929 1,519,553 Hiker Dec. 16, 1924 2,220,405 Jones Nov. 5, 1940 2,267,140 Schottenberg Dec. 23, 1941 2,252,677 Ackerman Aug. 12, 1941 2,187,639 Bond Jan. 16, 1940 

